8B
NCAA BASKETBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2007
FAMILY FIRST
Creighton coach changes his mind
BY NOAH TRISTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dana Altman's stint at Arkansas was over in one day.
Altman quit Tuesday, apologizing to Arkansas fans and saying it was in his family's best interest to return to Creighton.
A day earlier, he had been introduced as the Razorbacks' new coach at a news conference that included cheerleaders, a cheering crowd and a traditional "Pig Sooie" call.
"This is one of the shortest chapters and most disappointing chapters in the history of the institution," Arkansas Chancellor John A. White said at a hastily scheduled news conference Tuesday. "But you know this program is strong and is going to be strong in the future. We want to wish the very, very best to Dana Altman and his family."
Altman has coached at Creighton for 13 years and said he decided to return to the Omaha, Neb., school after talking to his wife and Creighton
athletic director Bruce Rasmussen, who agreed to take him back.
"This is something I'm doing for my family," Altman said. "I wish I would have come to that decision earlier."
Altman was hired to replace Stan Heath, whom Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles fired last week. South Florida hired Heath on Monday.
White did not provide a timetable for a renewed search.
"We'll be engaging the services of a search firm to help us" hire a new coach, White said. "We'll be able to attract a very strong coach to come to the Razorbacks. This program is strong and we're going to be strong in the future."
Arkansas has eyed Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie and received permission to talk to Memphis coach John Calipari.
Creighton fans gathered outside the Vinardi Center on Tuesday night. Guard Isaac Miles said the players were excited about Altman's return.
Creighton basketball coach Dana Altman talks to the media after resuming his job Wednesday at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. After one day, Altman quit his position as Arkansas coach to return to Creighton with his family's interest in mind.
Dave Weaver/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Carlos Osorio/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein speaks to reporters in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Wednesday. He was introduced Wednesday as the new coach in Michigan, which lured Beilein from West Virginia where he still was under contract.
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The University of Kansas
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — John Beilein has a reputation for getting the most out of his players wherever he has coached.
>> SWITCHING SCHOOLS
Beilein leaves W. Virginia to coach Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines will present perhaps his toughest task.
Less than a week after leading West Virginia to the NIT championship, Beilein accepted an offer to come to Ann Arbor and revive a program that made its last NCAA tournament appearance in 1998.
Michigan planned to introduce Beilein at a news conference on Wednesday in Ann Arbor.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Sometimes good things come to an end," Beilein told a news conference Tuesday in Morgantown, W.Va., after accepting Michigan's offer earlier in the day. "It's time for me to do new things at a new university."
Beilein has taken teams without great talent to five NCAA tournaments and six NIT appearances in 29 seasons.
Beilein took the job despite not visiting Michigan's campus. He'd never been in Morgantown, either, before leaving Richmond for West
When he arrived at West Virginia in April 2002, the Mountaineers were coming off an 8-20 season in which Gale Catlett ended a 24-year career three weeks early in disgust over his team's poor performance and lack of pride.
Beilstein's teams made deep runs in the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons and the Mountaineers beat Clemson 78-73 for the NIT title last week.
Beitlein went 104-60 at West Virginia, including 27-9 this year despite losing his top four scorers from a year ago. Only one other team in school history won more games — a Jerry West-led team that lost to California in the NCAA championship game in 1959.
"I'm taking a leap of faith — again," he said.
The 54-year-old Beilein is the second straight Big East coach to take over at Michigan and is certain to face high expectations. The Wolverines fired Tommy Amaker in mid-March after the former Seton Hall coach's sixth season without an NCAA bid.
Virginia.
The Wolverines went to the NIT three times in the past four years. They haven't made the NCAAs since 1998.
"I am excited about this new opportunity at Michigan," Beilein said. "I wouldn't go there if I didn't think they could win a national championship."
It will cost Michigan $2.5 million to buy out Beilein at West Virginia, plus perhaps about $1 million a season in a multiyear contract and $900,000 to Amaker for firing him without cause. He declined to discuss terms of his Michigan contract.
Tune-ups
He leaves behind a promising team that loses only top scorer Frank Young and center Rob Summers.
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